Piano from Scratch

We add the heroic right hand with some fingering gymnastics to save the left hand. The reason I use these fingerings is to help keep both hands from stretching beyond comfortable shapes, making it easy to use each hand as a "measuring stick" for cleaner jumps and position changes. Let me know if you find these fingerings helpful - if not, I'd be happy to "redo" this measure and show the more "traditional" fingering as an alternative.

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Thank you!
written by Katharina Derfler , March 08, 2010

Dear Hugh,
I think it´s great that you´re spending your time on making these amazing and helpful videos.
Though I kind of like to say about myself that I´m an experienced player, I often have troubles with left-hand-measures like the ones right now.

It´s not always easy to find the right way on how to put my little fingers to the right place- and the last few videos of yours were extremely helpful

Thanks a lot!
Best wishes from Austria,
Kate

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You're welcome!
written by Hugh , March 08, 2010

Thanks for your comment, Kate! I'm so glad you find these videos helpful! I hope to find some time in my schedule soon to update the site with more lessons.

Take care and enjoy your lessons!

All the very best,
Hugh

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Very clear
written by William , March 11, 2010

Hugh, your videos are very clear and you explain things very well. The swiss cheese approach makes things a lot easier, and fluid.

I guess my question is, is this the way you personally play the piece? Or do you use a more traditional approach? I'm wondering if there are any advantages to a traditional approach.

Before I watched your videos, with the left hand of measure 27, I've been following the notation and doing the first three sixteenths with fingers 5,2,1 but then crossing over and using finger 2 for the fourth note. I figured it'd help me practice bigger leaps and dexterity, and prepare me for other similar pieces. I've definitely gotten better with it. But I've been struggling to get fluidity with measure 30 and I'm going to try the swiss cheese approach.

Anyway, I really appreciate your videos. Thanks for taking the time and imparting your experience and knowledge. For me, I'd already been playing the song on my own, so when I found your videos, I already knew where I was struggling, and what kind of help I needed, and so your videos helped me that much more. Thanks again.

William

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